Our tour continued after the Doka Coffee Plantation. Oscar, our driver drove us an hour to the La Paz Waterfall Garden and Nature Preserve. Originally, we were all excited about the waterfall tour, but as we entered the facility, our interests quickly shifted to the animals.
Aviary
The tour started in the bird aviary where toucans, pavas, scarlet macaws, grosbeaks, and many others fly freely. This aviary is a refuge for wild birds that have either been captured illegally by hunters and confiscated by the government or donated by owners. Many of the birds lack the basic skills to survive and the wild on their own.
La Paz Water Garden and Nature Preserve
Butterfly Observatory
Is an enclosed structure that allows over 20 different species of butterflies to soar freely. We mostly saw the blue monarchs, but they were all gorgeous.
Butterflies surrounding me with joy
Flora everywhere
There were an assortment of breath taking flora around the park as well.
Flora at La Paz
Hummingbird Observatory
La Paz boasted of a monkey, hummingbird, and snake sanctuaries as well. The monkeys were just not as exciting as the ones we met in the wild, but still fun. The hummingbird Garden was beautiful and offered a rare chance to see these skittish creatures in front of your face.
Can you see the beautiful green breasted hummingbird below?
Beautiful Hummingbird Enjoying Nectar
Casita De la Paz
Is a reproduction built using only the tools available to the average farmer a century ago. Inside they offered fresh cow milk cheese and hot tea. Matt joined me for a photo op with an ox-driven cart, even though we passed on the joy ride.
Casita La Paz
Jungle Cats
One of my favorite stops was the jungle cat exhibit. This is the newest exhibit and it is considering temporary at the moment. We saw Ocelots, jaguardundi and Margays.
Big Cats at La Paz Sanctuary
Waterfalls
Monica and Oscar took the van and drove around to the bottom of the falls where they met us after our hike. The walk down the waterfalls was a 45 minute walk down hundreds of stairs which would have been too challenging for Monica.
As Matt and I began our descent, we quickly came across the first waterfall called Magia Blanca Waterfall which was 120’ tall. This trail took us through the La Paz river along the rainforest showing the diversity of the plant and wildlife.
The other two waterfalls are Encantada Waterfall at 65’ and Escondida Waterfall at 10’. They were beautiful and refreshing. We had a little fun with each of them.
Waterfalls at La Paz
It had been a really long day. It took us 2 hours to drive back into town where Oscar dropped Matt and I off at La Puesta Del Sol and took Monica back to Croc’s. We had a quick beverage, caught our water taxi back to the boat and were unpacking as another boat stopped by.
Manu Kai is a beautiful 56’ catamaran that is part of the Panama Posse. They invited us over for a cold drink to share stories. Super nice family, Thor and Tanya with a 16 year old son, Tristan and 12 year old daughter Sienna.
All Day Tour Included:
- Transportation (2.5 hours each way)
- Breakfast
- Doka Coffee Plantation
- Lunch
- La Paz Water Garden and Nature Preserve
- Stop at a tienda to buy fresh strawberries, local cheese, and blackberries